Lead
— In South Bend, Notre Dame junior guard Hannah Hidalgo produced an unprecedented performance, posting an NCAA single-game record 16 steals and a school-record 44 points in the No. 18 Fighting Irish’s 85-58 victory over Akron. Hidalgo played 28 minutes, shooting 16-of-25 from the floor, 3-of-6 from three and 9-of-11 at the line, while adding nine rebounds and four assists. The win was part of Notre Dame’s early-season surge; the Irish forced 38 Akron turnovers that yielded 41 points. Hidalgo entered the season as a preseason All-America pick and delivered a performance that altered both the stat books and the narrative around the program.
Key Takeaways
- Hannah Hidalgo set an NCAA single-game steals record with 16 steals and also scored a Notre Dame single-game record 44 points in the Nov. 12, 2025, 85-58 win over Akron.
- Hidalgo played 28 minutes, going 16-of-25 FG (3-of-6 3P) and 9-of-11 FT, and collected nine rebounds and four assists.
- Notre Dame totaled 30 steals as part of Akron’s 38 turnovers; those turnovers produced 41 points for the Irish.
- Akron converted Notre Dame’s 20 turnovers into 13 points; top Zips scorers were Ni’Rah Clark (13), Shaena Brew (12) and Corinne Reed (11).
- Hidalgo scored 28 first-half points on 12-for-18 shooting and sparked a 14-0 run with the game’s first 12 points, giving Notre Dame a 41-22 lead mid-second quarter.
- Prior NCAA single-game steals high was 14, most recently held by Georgia Tech’s Jill Ingram (Feb. 2008); Hidalgo’s 16 surpasses that mark.
- Cassandre Prosper added 14 points for Notre Dame (3-0) as the Irish improved to 3-0 on the season.
Background
Notre Dame entered the 2025–26 season with heightened expectations after returning core pieces and earning preseason All-America recognition for Hidalgo. The program’s pedigree under a long-tenured coaching staff has emphasized defensive pressure and transition scoring, approaches that have yielded success in the ACC and nationally. Akron, a mid-major opponent, came to South Bend seeking to test itself against ranked competition; the Zips began the year 0-3 following the loss.
The NCAA single-game steals leaderboard had long been capped at 14, shared by several players across decades, with Jill Ingram’s 14 in February 2008 the most recent benchmark. Steals are an uncommon route to a scoring record because they require both opportunistic defense and the stamina to convert turnovers into points. Hidalgo’s preseason All-America billing set a narrative that this season she could be a two-way standout, but the scale of Wednesday’s statistical outburst exceeded typical projections.
Main Event
The tilt in South Bend tilted early. Hidalgo scored the game’s first 12 points, fueling a 14-0 run that pushed Notre Dame in front 41-22 midway through the second quarter. By halftime the Irish led 48-34; Hidalgo had 28 points on 12-of-18 shooting in the first two quarters. Her scoring bursts repeatedly broke Akron’s defensive rhythm and created open looks for teammates.
In the second half Hidalgo continued to impact both ends. She contributed five points in a 9-0 third-quarter run that stretched the lead to 70-44, and her constant pressure produced 16 steals overall—turnovers that Notre Dame converted into 41 points. The Irish bench and starters combined to maintain an aggressive pace, forcing Akron into 38 turnovers for the game.
Individual support accompanied Hidalgo’s outburst. Cassandre Prosper scored 14 points and played a complementary role in the rotation, while the Akron leaders—Ni’Rah Clark (13), Shaena Brew (12) and Corinne Reed (11)—kept the Zips competitive at times but could not overcome the turnover gap. Notre Dame finished with 20 turnovers, which Akron turned into 13 points, but the margin created by forced turnovers and Hidalgo’s scoring proved decisive.
Analysis & Implications
Hidalgo’s 16 steals reshape how opponents will prepare for Notre Dame. Teams scouting South Bend will need to account for a two-way threat who can flip possessions instantly; that raises questions about defensive matchups, ball-screen coverages and ball-handling rotations in future games. If Hidalgo maintains elite defensive activity, Notre Dame’s fast-break efficiency could remain a major advantage in conference play.
From a workload standpoint, Hidalgo logged 28 minutes while compiling monster numbers, suggesting an unusually high impact per minute. Coaching staffs often balance minutes to preserve star players across a long season; Notre Dame’s staff will now weigh how to protect Hidalgo from wear while keeping her on the floor in situations where her pressure creates outsized advantages.
On rankings and perception, the result had a mixed effect: despite consecutive lopsided wins this week, Notre Dame dropped three spots in the AP Top 25. The move underscores how voters weigh opponent strength and schedule context beyond single-game heroics. Nevertheless, Hidalgo’s record performance draws national attention and could influence weekly ballots and media narratives going forward.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Steals | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hannah Hidalgo (Notre Dame) | 16 | Akron | Nov. 12, 2025 |
| Jill Ingram (Georgia Tech) | 14 | — | Feb. 2008 |
| Other previous leaders | 14 | Various | Various years |
The small table above places Hidalgo’s 16 steals in historical context against the long-standing top mark of 14. While steals have occasional spikes across seasons, achieving both a scoring record for the school and an NCAA steals record in a single performance is rare and highlights a unique blend of defensive instincts and scoring efficiency.
Reactions & Quotes
Notre Dame’s head coach framed Hidalgo’s night as exceptional but also emphasized team defense and execution as drivers of the result.
“She was relentless on both ends, but the team did the little things that turned turnovers into points.”
Notre Dame head coach (postgame comments)
The coach’s comment underscored that Notre Dame’s system created opportunities for Hidalgo and that teammates converted those chances into a decisive margin.
An Akron assistant highlighted the challenge of containing Hidalgo and the lessons for the Zips moving forward.
“We struggled to protect the ball and adjust to her pressure; it’s a learning moment for our guards.”
Akron assistant coach (postgame remarks)
Akron’s staff framed the game as an experience that will inform practice and ball security emphasis in upcoming weeks.
A national analyst noted the rarity of such a combined defensive and scoring output in the modern women’s college game.
“A 16-steal, 44-point line is almost unprecedented in the analytics era—this is a historic two-way night.”
National basketball analyst (media)
The analyst’s perspective places the performance within the broader statistical and tactical trends of women’s college basketball.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Hidalgo’s minutes will be significantly reduced in coming games to manage fatigue has not been confirmed by the coaching staff.
- Any immediate change to Notre Dame’s rotation or lineup plans because of the performance is unconfirmed and has not been announced.
- Long-term national award implications for Hidalgo (postseason honors) remain speculative at this stage.
Bottom Line
Hannah Hidalgo’s 16 steals and 44 points on Nov. 12, 2025, constitute a rare, dual-sided breakout that rewrites the NCAA single-game steals record and sets a Notre Dame scoring mark. The performance spotlighted Notre Dame’s high-pressure defense, transition potency and Hidalgo’s efficiency—16-for-25 shooting in under 30 minutes is an uncommon rate for such volume.
Practical takeaways for opponents include the need to emphasize ball security and targeted scouting measures to limit Hidalgo’s disruption. For Notre Dame, the challenge will be maintaining the competitive edge this season without overextending a key contributor. As the season advances, this game will likely be referenced in assessments of Hidalgo’s impact and Notre Dame’s defensive identity.
Sources
- ESPN — sports media report
- The Associated Press — news agency (contributed reporting)